Pediatric head and neck malignancies: incidence and trends, 1973-2010.

OBJECTIVE: Determine the current epidemiology of head and neck (H&N) cancer in the US pediatric population. STUDY
DESIGN: Analysis of national tumor registries comparing childhood H&N cancer trends to overall childhood cancer trends. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) database was accessed to gather epidemiologic data regarding pediatric H&N cancer between 1973 and 2010. Specific trends related to demographic background, histologic diagnosis, tumor location, and incidence, as well as general trends of all pediatric cancers, were extracted.
RESULTS: The total burden and incidence rates of pediatric cancer as well as H&N cancer continue to rise. Cancer was diagnosed in children <15 years old at a rate of 12.5 cases (95% confidence interval [CI], 11.9-13.1) per 100,000 from 1973 to 1975 and 17.3 (95% CI, 16.7-17.9) from 2007 to 2009, an increase of 38%. H&N cancers in the same age group increased from 1.1 (95% CI, 0.9-1.2) in 1973-1975 to 1.6 (95% CI, 1.4-1.8) in 2007-2009, an increase of 45%. Despite this apparent increased incidence, the proportion of H&N cancers to all cancers in the pediatric population has remained stable.
CONCLUSION: As with all pediatric cancer, the public health burden of pediatric H&N cancer continues to rise. The proportion of H&N malignancy to all pediatric cancer is stable. With the incidence increasing, however, work to identify treatment strategies remains crucial. © American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Foundation 2015.